Part 22 (1/2)

”Yes”

”You'll have a big job finding hi on the warpath before long They have had soe to take care of ourselves,” answered Tom, and then he and his brothers followed their uncle up to the roo their stay in the town

”He's, down in the mouth, and no mistake,” was Tom's comment, when the boys were left to themselves ”I never saw hiht him a lesson,” said dick ”I hope he really does turn over a new leaf”

The day proved to be a busy one Randolph Rover gathered all the inforo, and also tried to locate Niwili Camp He likewise purchased several additions to his outfits froed the services of several natives, the leader of as a brawny black named Cujo, a felloho declared that he knew every foot of the territory to be covered and who said he was certain that he could locate King Susko sooner or later

”Him badlot!” Cujo took to Aleck from the start, and the pair soon became warm friends The African inspected their outfits with interest and offered several suggestions regarding additional purchases

Three days were spent in Boood deal of Dan Baxter, who, having nothing better to do, hung around them continually He remained as meek as before, but our friends did not know that this was e cur while under the whip Baxter was naturally a brute, and lacked the backbone necessary far genuine reformation

”Say, why can't you take me with you?” he asked, on the day that the Rover expedition was to start out ”I', and I won't charge you a cent for my service”

”I don't know as ,” said Sam, to whom Baxter addressed his remarks

”Well, won't you speak to hi to do here, and the captains to whom I've applied don't want me on their shi+ps,” pleaded the former bully of Putnam Hall

Sam was easily touched at all times, and he knew that Baxter must feel lonely and wretched so far from home and without friends or capital He at once went to his brothers and his uncle and laid the big youth's proposition before them

”We don't want him,” said dick promptly

”I don't believe he would be of any use to us”

”I would rather give him some more money just for hihtful for a th

”Well, I don't like Baxter any more than the others do But it seems awfully hard on hiive hiet back to the United States with”

”I'd rather have you do that, Uncle Randolph,” said dick ”I don't want hiuided boy,” was the conclusion reached by Randolph Rover; but he got no chance to speak to Dan Baxter until late in the afternoon, and then, to his astonish that he wanted nothingwhich was bound to be of great importance to the Rovers had occurred In Boma were a number of persons of mixed French and native blood ere little better than the old-tiands of Italy They were led by a wicked wretch ent by the na the Rovers for two days when he noticed the coldness which seemed to exist between, our friends and Baxter At once he threw hi the A into the interior, you have relish ”Are zay verra rich people?”

”Yes, they are well fixed,” answered the tall youth

”And zay do carry zare uess not--at least, not much of it”

”You are zare friend, eh?”